Page 224 - Urban Construction Project Management

Drawings and Specifications 179
REVIEW MEETING

Prior to the start of the project, a meeting should be set up with the design team so that
the drawings and specifications can be reviewed on a page-by-page basis. The
CM/GC’s team should include the PM, superintendent, estimator, scheduler, and pur-
chasing agent. The factor that commonly prevents this meeting is time. The excuse has
always been that the construction business does not have time to perform this exercise.
Guess what? Either you find the problem early, or you wait until the problem exposes
itself later at a critical stage of the project. You make the choice.

The construction documents need to be checked to make sure the equipment compo-
nents as specified can be delivered in a timely manner. This is achieved by constantly
checking the status of the specified component. Chapter 15 provides definitive infor-
mation on how to track critical components. In addition, check to see if all the equipment
specified is still being manufactured.

The construction documents should also be reviewed in the context of cost savings.
This would include reviewing certain components of the design where potential value
engineering analysis may be considered. Value engineering is the process where less
costly alternatives are reviewed for components that have been initially specified (usually
specified by the architect or the consultants). This may include types of curtain walls,
complex structural systems, and other costly systems.

After the construction document review session, the owner should be made aware of
any problems found so that they can be addressed immediately. The owner may also
want to evaluate alternatives that may have been suggested by the CM/GC.

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST

The following is a checklist to help navigate through the abundant construction documents
that have to be analyzed. The intent is to give the PM a guide when reviewing and ana-
lyzing the construction documents. Every project is different; thus, this checklist must
be viewed in the context of the type of project being evaluated.
1. Check that all of the drawings and specification sections are included by reviewing
the index on the first sheet of drawings and specifications. The following should be
included:
• Site plan
• Geotechnical
• Foundation
• Underpinning (may be included with the under pinning subcontractor)
• Architectural
• Façade
• Roof